New Chair of North East LEP Innovation Board appointed

Professor Alan Lowdon has been appointed as Chair of the North East LEP Innovation Board, with responsibility for helping to drive innovation and economic growth in the North East.

Alan brings with him more than 30 years’ experience in the international energy and utilities markets working for multinationals including Shell, Suez, British Gas, Rolls Royce Industrial Power, Mott MacDonald and SKM. He takes over the role from Professor Roy Sandbach who has been appointedDirector of the National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation (NASI).

Alan said: “Innovation is just one part of the spectrum of activity which is carried out at the North East LEP as it works to create more and better jobs for the region.

“In terms of innovation in manufacturing, energy and transport, the North East set the bar and we have a legacy of innovation which other UK regions simply don’t have. The role of the North East LEP Innovation Board is to build on this legacy, giving people the opportunity to flourish and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas of business and helping to match finance with innovation to allow new ideas to go from concept to commercialisation.”

Alan has been a member of the Innovation Board since October 2014, working alongside leading figures from the region’s business, academic and civic communities to drive the innovation agenda in the North East.

As well as his previous experience in the energy and utility markets, Alan has headed up three university spin-off companies and led on technology and innovation for Narec (now the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult). He currently acts as an advisor on energy to the UK and US governments and various UK universities and is a visiting professor at the University of Durham.

“I’ve spent a lot of time outside the region during my career and it’s rewarding to be able to bring my experiences and learning back to the North East. I’m looking forward to moving forward with the next phase of the Innovation Board’s work, which will include the development of the Innovation Observatory at Durham University,” said Alan.

The Innovation Observatory, based at Durham University and developed in partnership with Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland Universities, is designed to identify good innovation practices, patterns and trends, helping secure more opportunities for North East businesses in the global marketplace.

The Innovation Board, whose members share their expertise on a voluntary basis, meets several times a year.

Other members of the Innovation Board are Dr Peter Simpson, Director of N8 Research Partnership; Neil Hemming, Managing Partner at global software leader SAP; Professor Nick Wright, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Newcastle University; Dr Tim Hammond, Director of Business and Innovation Services at Durham University; Professor George Marston, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Research atNorthumbria University; Gillian Hall, Senior Partner and National Head of Corporate Law at Watson Burton LLP; Brian McCarthy, Relationship Manager at Innovate UK; Norma Refearn, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside; Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council; and HansMőller, Director of Innovation at the North East LEP; Colin Herron, Managing Director of Zero Carbon Futures; and Tony Ikwue, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Sunderland.